Patents by Inventor Edwin A. Miller

Edwin A. Miller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220115811
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for mating with a mating connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a housing with a cable receiving portion and a mating portion. The housing has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. The mating portion has a mating projection which extends from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface. The mating projection has a circular cross-sectional configuration. The mating projection has an angled wall which extends from the first surface to a mating face, the angled wall is angled relative to a plane of the first surface and a plane of the mating face. The mating face has contacts which extend therethrough. The contacts has circular engagement sections arranged concentrically about a center of the mating face. A nonconductive coating applied to the angled wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Rodney T. SMITH, Keith Edwin MILLER, Kyle Michael DOLL, Tim Robert CHEVALIER
  • Patent number: 11297712
    Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. Signal pathways is provided on a first surface. First ground pathways is provided on the first surface adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. Second ground pathways are provided on a second surface in line with the signal pathways. Vias extend from the first ground pathways through the circuit board to the second ground pathways, thereby placing the first ground pathways in electrical engagement with the second ground pathways. The first ground pathways, the vias and the second ground pathways extend along multiple pairs of the signal pathways and form cavities around the multiple pairs of the signal pathways to provide electrical shielding for the multiple pairs of the signal pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GmbH
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Albert Tsang
  • Publication number: 20220077639
    Abstract: A coaxial connector assembly includes a connector module having a connector body that includes contact channels. The coaxial connector assembly includes coaxial contacts received in the corresponding contact channels having a center contact, a conductive shell coaxial with the center contact and an insulator between the center contact and the conductive shell. The coaxial connector assembly includes positioning adapters received in the corresponding contact channels having an adapter body forming an adapter bore that receives the coaxial contact. The adapter body engages the retention feature to position the coaxial contact relative to the adapter body and engages the connector body to position the coaxial contact in the contact cavity. The adapter component enables multiple coaxial contact sizes to be used in the same connector module contact channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Francis John Blasick, Denver Harley Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220069515
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for mating with a mating connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a housing having a first surface and a second surface. At least one magnet is provided the housing. A mating area extends from the first surface. The mating area has a sloped surface, which is sloped relative to a plane of the first surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kyle Michael DOLL, Keith Edwin MILLER
  • Patent number: 11264749
    Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. The circuit board has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. Signal pathways are provided on the first surface. The signal pathways have signal pathway ends abutting a mounting end of the circuit board. First ground pathways are provided on the first surface. The first ground pathways are positioned adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. The first ground pathways have first ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. One or more second ground pathways are provided on the second surface. The one or more second ground pathways have second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. The positioning of the signal pathway ends, the first ground pathway ends and the second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end reduces crosstalk between signal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GmbH
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Albert Tsang, Scott Eric Walton, Eric Douglas Springston, II, Andrew M. Martin
  • Publication number: 20210399506
    Abstract: A connector system includes an adapter with a first mating portion, a second mating portion and a transition portion. A continuous outer wall extends across the first mating portion, the transition portion and the second mating potion. A first terminal positioned in the adapter. At least one receptacle has a receptacle mating section and a receptacle transition section. A continuous receptacle outer conductive wall extends across the receptacle mating section and the receptacle transition section. A receptacle inner wall extends perpendicular to the receptacle outer wall. A second terminal is positioned in the at least one receptacle. A retention member is provided in the receptacle mating section. The continuous outer wall and the continuous receptacle outer wall form a grounding shield minimizing signal leakage from the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Francis John BLASICK, Keith Edwin MILLER, Denver Harley WILSON, Graham Harry SMITH, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210399468
    Abstract: A coaxial connector assembly has a housing with at least one contact receiving cavity which extends from a mating end to a contact assembly receiving end. The contact receiving cavity has a mounting section proximate the contact assembly receiving end. A contact assembly is positioned in the contact receiving cavity. The contact assembly has a front flange proximate a mating portion of the contact assembly. A positioning member is inserted on the mating portion of the contact assembly. The positioning member cooperates with the flange to position the positioning member on the mating portion of the contact assembly. The positioning member cooperates with a wall of the contact receiving cavity to limit the movement of the mating portion of the contact assembly in a direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the contact assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Raymond GINGRICH, III, Francis John BLASICK, Keith Edwin MILLER
  • Publication number: 20210305737
    Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. The circuit board has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. Signal pathways are provided on the first surface. The signal pathways have signal pathway ends abutting a mounting end of the circuit board. First ground pathways are provided on the first surface. The first ground pathways are positioned adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. The first ground pathways have first ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. One or more second ground pathways are provided on the second surface. The one or more second ground pathways have second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. The positioning of the signal pathway ends, the first ground pathway ends and the second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end reduces crosstalk between signal pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Edwin MILLER, Albert TSANG, Scott Eric WALTON, Eric Douglas SPRINGSTON, II, Andrew M. Martin
  • Publication number: 20210307156
    Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. Signal pathways is provided on a first surface. First ground pathways is provided on the first surface adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. Second ground pathways are provided on a second surface in line with the signal pathways. Vias extend from the first ground pathways through the circuit board to the second ground pathways, thereby placing the first ground pathways in electrical engagement with the second ground pathways. The first ground pathways, the vias and the second ground pathways extend along multiple pairs of the signal pathways and form cavities around the multiple pairs of the signal pathways to provide electrical shielding for the multiple pairs of the signal pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Edwin MILLER, Albert TSANG
  • Publication number: 20210288444
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector module having a connector body with side edges and end edges. The connector body has contact channels holding contacts. The connector assembly includes a mounting frame having side walls and an end wall opposite a window between the side walls. The window is open to and provides access to a passage that receives the connector module. The mounting frame includes a connector module support structure for supporting the connector module in the passage that defines a confined space oversized relative to the connector body of the connector module to allow a limited amount of floating movement in the confined space in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the mating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Francis John Blasick, Michael John Walmsley
  • Patent number: 11031734
    Abstract: An electrical connector for use in an electrical connector system which controls cross talk and signal radiation. The electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of modules. The modules have mating ends and mounting ends. Signal contacts are positioned in the modules. The signal contacts extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends and are arranged in pairs to carry differential signals. Ground contacts are positioned in the modules. The ground contacts extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends. Respective ground contacts of the ground contacts are positioned adjacent to respective signal contacts of the signal contacts. Ground plates are positioned in the modules. The ground plates extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends, the ground contacts are electrically connected to the ground plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Services GmbH
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Kyle Gary Annis, Scott Eric Walton, Albert Tsang, Kevin Michael Thackston
  • Patent number: 11025006
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector module having a connector body with side edges and end edges. The connector body has contact channels holding contacts. The connector assembly includes a mounting frame having side walls and an end wall opposite a window between the side walls. The window is open to and provides access to a passage that receives the connector module. The mounting frame includes a connector module support structure for supporting the connector module in the passage that defines a confined space oversized relative to the connector body of the connector module to allow a limited amount of floating movement in the confined space in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the mating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Francis John Blasick, Michael John Walmsley
  • Patent number: 11025014
    Abstract: A shield member for use in a modular electrical connector. The shield member includes mounting sections and shielding sections. The mounting sections are for mounting to a substrate. The shielding sections have first sections and second sections. The second sections are positioned in a different plane than the first sections. Transition sections extend between the first sections and the second sections. Substrate receiving slots are provided in the first sections and the second sections. Resilient portions are provided on either side of the substrate receiving slots. Contact surfaces extend into the substrate receiving slots. The resilient portions cause a normal force to be applied to the contact surfaces to maintain the contact surfaces in mechanical and electrical engagement with respective ground traces of modules of the modular electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TE CONNECTNITY SERVICES GmbH
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Scott Eric Walton
  • Patent number: 10998678
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly which controls cross talk and signal radiation. Signal pathways are provided on modules in a first connector housing, with the signal pathways being arranged in differential pairs. Second ground pathways are positioned between side surfaces of the modules and respective signal pathways of the signal pathways. Signal contacts are positioned in the second connector housing. Second ground contacts are positioned in the second connector housing. The second ground contacts are positioned between side surfaces of the second modules and respective signal contacts of the signal contacts. The second ground pathways engage the second ground contacts of the second modules to balance the differential pairs of signal pathways to optimize impedance and shielding of the signal pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GmbH
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Scott Eric Walton, Albert Tsang, Kevin Michael Thackston, Kyle Gary Annis
  • Patent number: 10965062
    Abstract: An electrical connector for use in an electrical connector system which controls cross talk, signal radiation and impedance. The electrical connector includes a plurality of modules having mating ends and mounting ends. Each of the modules of the plurality of modules has a conductive first housing. The first housing has at least one second housing recess and ground contact receiving channels provided in a first surface of the first housing. At least one second housing is provided in the at least one second housing recess. The at least one second housing is made of insulative material and has signal contact receiving channels provided in a first surface of the at least one second housing. Signal contacts are positioned in the signal contact receiving channels of the at least one second housing. Ground contacts are positioned in the ground contact receiving channels of the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GmbH
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Kyle Gary Annis
  • Publication number: 20210066853
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector module having a connector body with side edges and end edges. The connector body has contact channels holding contacts. The connector assembly includes a mounting frame having side walls and an end wall opposite a window between the side walls. The window is open to and provides access to a passage that receives the connector module. The mounting frame includes a connector module support structure for supporting the connector module in the passage that defines a confined space oversized relative to the connector body of the connector module to allow a limited amount of floating movement in the confined space in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the mating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Francis John Blasick, Michael John Walmsley
  • Patent number: 10558000
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a coaxial connector module and a fiber optic module coupled to the coaxial connector module. The coaxial connector module includes a connector body and coaxial contacts in contact channels. The connector body has a mating interface and fastener openings open at the mating interface to receive fasteners and a window at the mating interface. The fiber optic module includes a housing coupled to the mating interface of the connector body having a cavity and fastener openings receiving the fasteners to couple the housing to the connector body at the mating interface. The fiber optic module includes a fiber optic connector received in the cavity having a mating end and a fiber optic cable extending therefrom. The fiber optic connector is received in the window for mating with a mating fiber optic connector of the mating connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, David James Fabian
  • Patent number: 10535971
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a contact leadframe of unitary construction including first contacts extending to second contacts via corresponding leads, and an overmolded contact module housing formed over the leadframe, forming a connector module. The connector further includes the housing embedding the leads and surrounding the first contacts, the second contacts extending from the housing. The connector further includes a first surface of the first contacts in contact with the housing, and an opposed second surface of the first contacts being exposed. The connector includes a plurality of connector modules positioned in an aligned arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignees: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION, TE CONNECTIVITY NEDERLAND BV
    Inventors: Kyle Gary Annis, Keith Edwin Miller, Kevin Michael Thackston, Rutger Wilhelmus Smink, Jacobus Nicolaas Tuin
  • Patent number: 10505323
    Abstract: A coaxial connector assembly includes a connector module having a connector body having contact channels holding coaxial contacts and a mounting frame defining a passage having a recess that receives the connector body. The mounting frame has a pocket open to the recess and a backing plate removably received in the pocket. The backing plate is coupled to the mounting frame to at least partially block the recess. The mounting frame includes blocking surfaces and the backing plate includes a blocking surface defining a confined space oversized relative to the connector module to allow a limited amount of floating movement in the confined space in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the mating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller, Kenneth Paul Dowhower
  • Patent number: 10505322
    Abstract: A coaxial connector assembly includes a connector module having a connector body having a first side edge including a first slot. The connector body has contact channels holding coaxial contacts. The coaxial connector assembly includes a mounting frame having a first side wall including a second slot and a second side wall having a blocking surface supporting the connector body in a recess. The second slot is open to the recess. The coaxial connector assembly includes a side support removably received in the first and second slots. The side support has a side support surface. The side support passes through the second slot and extends into the first slot such that the side support surface supports the first side edge of the connector body in the recess. The side support may be formed as a threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keith Edwin Miller